“If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it." -Toni Morrison

I’m catching up on my reading, and can check Joe Hill’s Horns off the list. A fascinating idea, and quite well written; a few parts made me feel a little ill, and I think I actually had nightmares from it one night. However, the more Ig transformed into the devil the less interesting the book was to me; the momentum seemed to peter out. But his relationship with Merrin was heartbreaking, as was what happened to her, and while I have more thoughts, I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, as it’s indeed a book to read and buy.

Next to buy will be his short story collection, and Mira Grant’s Deadline. Oh, and Genevieve Valentine’s Mechanique, both of which I believe come out next week? In the meantime, Valentine has a story up from her Tresaultiverse at Fantasy Magazine. Sometimes the way she phrases things reminds me of early Tanith Lee, which of course I love. But since those aren’t out yet, I’ve just received in the mail Margo Lanagan’s Tender Morsels, and Jonathan Strahan’s Eclipse 4 and Engineering Infinity. The Lanagan comes first, although I still have collections by E. Bear and Karen Joy Fowler and the Grace Krilonovich waiting.

But the real reason for this post is Eric Gregory’s “The Harrowers,” which starts off Lightspeed‘s issue 12. Post-apocalyptia and zombie bears, with a gun-touting preacher man! Gregory is definitely a writer to keep an eye on.

And a bit randomly, I found 1k + words on Harvester the book last night, which was so exciting. I’m ready for more, but Heloise is jockying with a new little SF short that unwound itself over the weekend, so we’ll see who wins out.